The former deputy chief of staff of a Los Angeles City Councilman is suing her former boss claiming he retaliated against her after she turned down requests for sexual favors.
Francine Godoy, 34, filed an eight-page lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging Councilman Jose Huizar regularly sexually harassed her -- physically and verbally.
Huizar is accused of suggesting Godoy run for a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District board in 2012 and then tying his support for her campaign to sexual activities.
Godoy, who was Huizar's deputy chief of staff until April, says she that when she refused the 45-year-old councilman's advances, he cut back her duties and made her work from home.
The lawsuit states that the instances of alleged sexual harassment are "too numerous to articulate," then goes on to describe a particularly volatile exchange alleged to have taken place between the two city workers.
Godoy alleges that Huizar called her into his office one night in October 2012 and conditioned his support for her Community College District campaign on her having sex with him, the lawsuit said.
When she refused, the lawsuit states that Huizar "got angry and started yelling and cursing" at his then-deputy chief of staff.
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Huizar "went into (Godoy's) office and started opening her drawers, taking her belongings, grabbing her files and taking her things into his office," according to the lawsuit.
In a separate incident, Huizar allegedly called Godoy's mother, with whom she lives, to track her down after Godoy refused to answer several of his calls.
The councilman, who is married with four children, said he had an “occaisional consensual relationship” with Godoy that he “deeply regrets."
“The claims of illegal sexual behavior and other alleged allegations against him are absolutely false and malicious,” Huizar’s attorney said in a statement.
“More importantly, Francine Godoy's behavior towards him both before and after these fabricated events will prove that they are not credible.”
Attorneys for Huizar said they believe there may be additional witnesses and possibly other alleged victims, and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 213-201-9331.
Since 2005, Huizar has represented Los Angeles' 14 District, which includes downtown LA.
The lawsuit seeks special damages, including those for Godoy's lost past and future earnings and job security.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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